In a discussion on the theme “Cooperating with Low-Cost Carriers”, Yuliya Crane, a Consultant with the world route development consultants, ASM, will provide an insight to Routes CIS delegates on July 21,2013 into how CIS airports can work with budget ventures, what are the requirements from them, what impact it will have on passenger traffic and how important the deal is to the parties involved.

In an exclusive interview ahead of this year's Routes CIS, Crane said: “This event is very timely for the CIS Airports and it is worth reflecting on some of the major developments taking place.” For the Ukrainian-born Crane, the event has an added significance. “It’s always a pleasure to visit my home country, especially in the summer and especially in Donetsk at the heart of one of the most dynamic and quickly-changing regions in Aviation”.

The outlook for aviation demand in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) continues to grow. The region is forecast to take delivery of a total of 1,170 new aircraft over the next 20 years! The good news is the switch to more efficient aeroplanes is allowing carriers to meet market demand with fewer aeroplanes and therefore open up new opportunities.

The latest data shows that the economies of the CIS region grew moderately in 2011. GDP expanded at a rate of 3.8 per cent in 2012, slowing from a 5 per cent rate in 2011. Overall though, regional growth is expected to continue, with GDP averaging 3.4 per cent annual growth over the next 20 years,” said Crane.

Russia’s economy continues to be the region’s largest, accounting for more than 70 per cent of the CIS region’s GDP in 2012, and the economies of Ukraine and Kazakhstan follow Russia in size, according to Crane. “The Russian Transport Ministry’s Federal Air Transport Agency reported that the number of passengers carried by Russian airlines rose to 74 million in 2012, an increase of 15.5 per cent compared to 2011,” she explained.

“The region’s geographical size and diverse terrain make airline travel an attractive transportation option. Air travel should increase over the coming 20 years as personal incomes rise and liberalisation of air transport regulations makes aviation services more available and affordable,” she added.